Jean Augustine: The Woman Behind Black History Month in Canada

HISTORY – This February marks the 30th anniversary of Black History Month in Canada. We all know the event, but do you know the woman who started it all? Meet Jean Augustine.

From Grenada to Parliament

Born in Grenada in 1937, Jean arrived in Canada in 1960. She started as a domestic worker—one of the few jobs open to Black women at the time. But she didn't stop there. She became a teacher, a school principal, and a powerful community leader.

Jean made history as the first Black woman elected to Canada’s House of Commons. If landing on the moon was a "giant leap for mankind," Jean’s arrival in Parliament was a massive leap for Black history in Canada.

In 1995, she proposed making February the official Black History Month. Unlike many political battles, her motion was unanimously approved.

A commitment, a mission

Her Mission: Making Canada "Visible" Jean served as a Secretary of State and a special advisor to the Prime Minister. For her, this month wasn't just about PR. It had two goals:

To Educate: To bring Black contributions out of the shadows and into textbooks.

To Empower: To remind everyone that Black history is Canadian history.

"If you don't know your neighbor's history, you can't truly live together." A Lasting Legacy Even today, her work continues. In 2023, the federal government fully funded the Jean Augustine Chair to support education and research. Now 88 years old, Jean lives in Toronto, seeing the fruits of her labor in a more open and diverse Canada.

What do you know about Jean Augustine? Share your thoughts in the comments!